Djokovic kicks off Shanghai Masters with win over Cilic

(Dan Tri) - Novak Djokovic had an impressive start to his journey to conquer the 2025 Shanghai Masters title, defeating Marin Cilic 7-6(2), 6-4 in a dramatic first-round match on the evening of October 3.

Djokovic had to resort to familiar tactics to overcome his Croatian opponent. In a match where high humidity made it difficult to hold the ball, Djokovic sprinkled sawdust on his hands, a method reminiscent of the legendary Ivan Lendl. He also faced powerful shots from Cilic, who scored 20 winners in the first set alone.

Despite appearing to suffer back pain in the third game of the second set, Djokovic showed resilience, hitting accurate shots from both wings to win after 1 hour and 55 minutes.

Djokovic won the first round of the 2025 Shanghai Masters (Photo: Getty).

“I struggled to find my rhythm from the baseline. I was missing some matches before the tournament, my last match was at the US Open, so I had a really difficult opening period against Marin, who, when he feels the ball, is dangerous and can beat anyone. He didn’t give me time to breathe, so I thought I had to save myself from trouble by serving well, which obviously made me happy,” Djokovic admitted after the match.

The win marked Djokovic's 20th win over Cilic in 22 meetings between the two players. Despite recent fitness concerns, including problems at last month's US Open, Djokovic has remained in top form, demonstrating an uncanny ability to step up when needed.

The crowd at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Gymnasium gave Djokovic his first professional return since losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open semi-finals. Among those on hand to witness his return were 10th seed Holger Rune and compatriot Hamad Medjedovic.

With his 40th win in Shanghai, Djokovic became the first male player to record 40 or more wins at six different ATP Masters 1000 events since the tournament's inception in 1990 (Rome 68, Indian Wells 51, Paris 50, Miami 49, Cincinnati 45), according to ATP statistics.

Djokovic had a tough time against Cilic (Photo: Getty).

The clash between Djokovic and Cilic, with a combined age of 79 years and 139 days, is the oldest ATP Masters 1000 main-draw encounter since 1990, a testament to the longevity of both players. Djokovic holds the all-time record for most weeks as world No. 1 (428), while Cilic, a former No. 3, is remembered for his 2014 US Open victory, one of 21 tournament titles.

"I have a lot of respect for Marin, everything he has achieved and who he is as a person. We get along really well off the court, we have known each other for many years. The last time we met was three years ago, so it is great to see him back playing at this level," Djokovic said.

Despite reaching the semifinals of all four Grand Slams this year, Djokovic’s Masters 1000 campaign has stalled. A runner-up finish in Miami was punctuated by early exits in Indian Wells, Monte-Carlo and Madrid. Now, in Shanghai, one of his best venues, Djokovic is aiming to restore balance.

In the next round, Djokovic will face Yannick Hanfmann, who came through qualifying to beat 25th seed Frances Tiafoe. Djokovic is currently ranked fourth in the ATP Live Race To Turin, with a 32-10 record this year.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/djokovic-khoi-dau-thuong-hai-masters-bang-chien-thang-truoc-cilic-20251003224729189.htm